Traditional Ruler strangled and burnt to death in Osun (photo)

80 year old Alase of Ilase-Ijesa in Obokun local government area of Osun state.Oba Adeshina Anibijuwon, was burnt to death inside his palace on Wednesday evening. Sources say the traditional ruler who lost his sight eight years ago was allegedly attacked by some hoodlums at about 8:00pm inside his palace and eventually died when the palace was gutted by fire caused by the suspected arsonist.

Firemen were said to have arrived at the scene promptly but could not douse the flames as they ran out of water.

Speaking on the incident, a traditional chief in the town, chief Oluwagbemiga Oke, explained that the house in which the monarch was living, donated to the town by a prominent native, got razed shortly after some unknown people paid the king a visit. According to him, the monarch had attended to five guest who came in a pink Mazda car before the incident happened adding "from what we were told, the house got burnt shortly after the people left".

Also reacting on the incident, an officer of the state fire service, Mr. Michael Ogundipe, ruled out the possibility of electrical fault, saying that findings by his men revealed that the was arson.

Twas gathered that two of the monarch's children and his house maid escaped unhurt while the fire raged but the monarch could not help the situation due to his old age and blindness.

The house maid of the monarch whose name could not be ascertained has been arrested by the police.